Negative electrode structure for non-aqueous lithium secondary battery

Abstract

The present invention relates to a negative electrode structure for use in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and a method of making such negative electrode structure. The negative electrode structure comprises: a monolithic anode comprising a semiconductor material, and a uniform ion transport structure disposed at the monolithic anode surface for contacting a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the uniform ion transport structure serves as a current collector and the negative electrode structure does not contain another current collector. The present invention also relates to a battery comprising the negative electrode structure of the present invention, a cathode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a negative electrode structure, a cathode, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and an interface between the non-aqueous electrolyte and the negative electrode structure, the negative electrode structure comprising a monolithic anode having a surface and a uniform ion transport structure on and covering the monolithic anode surface at the interface between the negative electrode structure and the electrolyte, the monolithic anode comprising a semiconductor material, the uniform ion transport structure having a thickness of at least about 300 Angstroms, the thickness of the uniform ion transport structure being substantially equivalent in all areas of the surface of the monolithic anode at the interface between the negative electrode structure and the electrolyte, wherein said uniform ion transport structure serves as a current collector and the negative electrode structure does not contain another current collector. 
     
     
       2. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic anode is in the form of a planar film. 
     
     
       3. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic anode is in the form of a three-dimensional film. 
     
     
       4. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1 , wherein the uniform ion transport structure comprises a deposited porous material. 
     
     
       5. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the uniform ion transport structure is about 300-800 Angstroms. 
     
     
       6. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1 , wherein the uniform ion transport structure comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, tin, gold, and aluminum. 
     
     
       7. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1 , wherein the uniform ion transport structure comprises a metal silicide or metal germanicide. 
     
     
       8. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1 , wherein the uniform ion transport structure comprises a metal silicide selected from the group consisting of nickel silicide, cobalt silicide, iron silicide, magnesium silicide, calcium silicide, molybdenum silicide, gold silicide, silver silicide, and aluminum silicide. 
     
     
       9. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1 , wherein the uniform ion transport structure comprises a composite material. 
     
     
       10. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1 , wherein the uniform ion transport structure comprises a physically porous material. 
     
     
       11. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 10  wherein the physically porous material is carbon black or graphite. 
     
     
       12. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1  wherein the uniform ion transport structure has an electrical conductivity that is more than 100 times greater than the electrical conductivity of the semiconductor material. 
     
     
       13. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 12  wherein the uniform ion transport structure has a thickness of about 300-800 Angstroms. 
     
     
       14. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 12  wherein the uniform ion transport structure comprises nickel silicide. 
     
     
       15. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 14  wherein the uniform ion transport structure has a thickness of about 300-800 Angstroms. 
     
     
       16. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 1  wherein the uniform ion transport structure comprises a silicide of nickel, cobalt, iron, magnesium, calcium, molybdenum, gold, silver or aluminum. 
     
     
       17. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of  claim 16  wherein the uniform ion transport structure has a thickness of about 300-800 Angstroms.